Bus Carrying Pilgrims Plunges Off Mountain Road in Nepal, Killing Seven
Shahid Lakhan, Nepal – Seven Indian pilgrims died and nine others were injured when a bus carrying devotees to a Hindu shrine veered off a mountain road in central Nepal on Saturday night. The bus fell approximately 500 feet down a rocky slope near Shahid Lakhan village, roughly 75 miles west of Kathmandu.
The passengers had been visiting the Manakamana Temple, a popular religious site where devotees seek blessings and have wishes granted, according to local beliefs. The accident occurred as the bus was traveling downhill, police said.
Among the deceased were two women and five men, all Indian citizens, according to Suraj Aryal, a local police chief. The victims have been identified as Muthu Kumar, 58, Anamalik, 58, Meenakshi, 59, Sivagami, 53, Vijayal, 57, Meena, 58, and Tamilarsi, 60. The injured included the bus driver and his assistant, along with seven other pilgrims.
Local authorities and villagers worked to extract victims from the wreckage before transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
This tragedy follows a similar incident last month where a British tourist, Dominic Stewart, 23, was among 19 people killed when a bus plunged 650 feet into a river in Nepal. Stewart’s family described him as a “very loving and caring young man” who was an avid trekker.
Nepalese authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the latest crash. Road accidents are common in Nepal, often attributed to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and overcrowding. The mountainous terrain further exacerbates the risks.
